How does a beginner learn EA

﻿I have 30 years in IT; 10 as a programmer and 20 as a Regional IT Manager for the FAA. I have been asked to join our startup PMO and take a role as a member of a team supporing EA. I have studied web sites and white papers to try to learn EA, but I need more suggestions for ways to learn this material.

The link is to some tools that are used for EA modeling. Sparx is nice because you can map out your methods in a fancy widget type way. It has lots of plugins (even eclipse) so this is very agile when you want to associate classes ex. The site offers lots of tips and "how to" type things.

The nice thing about sparx is that it uses packages so you have your entire suite ready when you need it. Functional requirements are easy as dragging and dropping lines. There is some good information on that site if you have not seen it yet.

To answer your question regarding how does a beginner learn enterprise architecture, I believe one of the early actions a "beginner" can do is to locate and read the organization's strategic plan. This plan should describe the key goals and objectives the organization seeks to realize in the next few years. After reviewing the strategic plan and understanding the key future-oriented goals the organization seeks to realize the beginner can begin to think about the key activities the organization should be doing to realize the goals, the processes that might be needed, the staffing, technologies, and related funding needed to progress toward realizing the strategic goals. I hope this perspective is helpful.

Too often, we are faced with a hybrid environment of ERPs, GOTS and COTS, legacy systems, shared services and now growing use of the Cloud and uneven degrees of centralization and effective governance or CIO control of IT budgets to aid enforcement/compliance with an EA. How does one build an EA from that or a road map to integrate it all?

One place to develop your critical thinking and other key EA related key skills is at the National Defense University iCollege that has a series of classes on just those critical subjects. The EA program has three certificates: Architect, Enterprise Architect, and Chief Enterprise Architect. The program prepares students to lead the development, implementation and maintenance of enterprise architectures; leverages people, capabilities and technology to achieve organizational objectives; and how to analyze EA content and recommend strategies to improve mission performance.